Monthly Archives: June 2012

Let us reflect on the stories of the first man created. The story of him and the father of evil – Iblis. How both of them ended their stay in the blissful jannah because of their disobedience to Allah.

Adam alaihi salam and Hawa, both of them ate the forbidden fruit while Iblis refused to prostrate unto Adam upon being commanded by Allah.

What we need to look at are the reactions of them two so we may reap lessons from this major point of history of mankind.

Iblis

Surah Al Aaraf 7: 11-18

And surely, We created you (your father Adam) and then gave you shape (the noble shape of a human being); then We told the angels, “Prostrate yourselves to Adam”, and they prostrated themselves, except Iblîs (Satan), he refused to be of those who prostrated themselves. (11)
(Allâh) said: “What prevented you (O Iblîs) that you did not prostrate yourself, when I commanded you?” Iblîs said: “I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You created from clay.” (12)
(Allâh) said: “(O Iblîs) get down from this (Paradise), it is not for you to be arrogant here. Get out, for you are of those humiliated and disgraced.” (13) (Iblîs) said: “Allow me respite till the Day they are raised up (i.e. the Day of Resurrection).” (14)
(Allâh) said: “You are of those respited.” (15)
(Iblîs) said: “Because You have sent me astray, surely I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path (16)
Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them as thankful ones (i.e. they will not be dutiful to You).” (17)
(Allâh) said (to Iblîs) “Get out from this (Paradise) disgraced and expelled. Whoever of them (mankind) will follow you, then surely I will fill Hell with you all.” (18)

Adam alaihi salam

Al Aaraf 7: 19-25

“And O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in Paradise, and eat thereof as you both wish, but approach not this tree otherwise you both will be of the Zâlimûn (unjust and wrong-doers).” (19)
Then Shaitân (Satan) whispered suggestions to them both in order to uncover that which was hidden from them of their private parts (before); he said: “Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save that you should become angels or become of the immortals.” (20)
And he [Shaitân (Satan)] swore by Allâh to them both (saying): “Verily, I am one of the sincere well-wishers for you both.” (21)
So he misled them with deception. Then when they tasted of the tree, that which was hidden from them of their shame (private parts) became manifest to them and they began to cover themselves with the leaves of Paradise (in order to cover their shame). And their Lord called out to them (saying): “Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you: Verily, Shaitân (Satan) is an open enemy unto you?” (22) They said: “Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers.” (23) (Allâh) said: “Get down, one of you is an enemy to the other [i.e. Adam, Hawwa (Eve), and Shaitân (Satan),]. On earth will be a dwelling-place for you and an enjoyment, – for a time.” (24)
He said: “Therein you shall live, and therein you shall die, and from it you shall be brought out (i.e.resurrected).” (25)

A little bit of analysing
When shaytan was asked why did he not obey the command, he replied by saying that he is better than Adam because he is created from fire while Adam was created from clay. Where did he get the idea that fire is better than clay? He refused to admit his guilty but instead showed his arrogance and pride.

And when being informed of his punishment by Allah, he made du’a. Instead of making repentance he asked to have a respite so that he could make Adam and his sons (all of us) also disobey Allah.

When Adam was asked why did he disobeyed, they did not give any excuse but rather immediately admit their guilt, beg for forgiveness by Allah’s will and humbled themselves.

This teach us Insya Allah about du’a – what to do and what not.

Supplication must be directed to Allah alone.

Ghafir 40: 60

And your Lord said: “Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islâmic Monotheism)] (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! Those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islâmic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!” (60)

Allah, Mighty and Glorious is He, has commanded us to supplicate to Him and has promised to respond to us when we do so.

Alhamdlillah, Allah with His boundless generosity and endless mercy. He has made the servant’s supplication as the fulfillment for his needs and then it is also rewarded as an act of worship.

Whereas for those who do not ask from Him or when he neglects asking Allah, Allah describes him as being arrogant!

Supplication is Worship

Prophet salllahu alaihi wasalm made it clear that supplication is a part of worshiping Allah,

Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet sallallahu alahi wasalam said, “Whoever does not supplicate to Allah invokes His wrath.”

Anyone who does not supplicate to Allah or who supplicates to other than Allah, then that person has – according to the above mentioned hadith – scorned His worship.

When you supplicate to Allah, you will taste the spiritual sweetness of invoking Allah and you humble before him. To cry before Allah and to beg Him.

Lesson
1. Invoke only to Allah
2. When you invoke to Allah, he will respond
3. When you invoke to Allah you are rewarded.
4. making du’a is an act of worship.
5. Those who do not invoke to Allah, Allah is angry at him.
6. Those who do not invoke to Allah, they are arrogant.

Al Naml 27: 62

Is not He (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls on Him, and Who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth, generations after generations? Is there any ilâh (god) with Allâh? Little is that you remember!

And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad SAW) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright. Al Baqarah 2: 186

According to the ayat, any supplication that fulfills the correct requirements will, be answered by Allah.

In a hadith

Allah is Shy and Most Generous. He is Shy that when a man raises his hands to Him (in Du’aa), He does not allow him to put them empty in failure.” [Ahmad, Abu Dawood and At-Tirmidhee]

Abu Said al khudri related that the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam said, “No Muslims makes du’a to Allah, without being granted one of three things by Allah: it hastens the fulfillment of what he asked for, or it is saved up for him until the Day of Judgment; or it prevents some kind of trouble from happening to him – unless it was for something bad, or something that might break the family ties.

(At Tirmidhi)

Lessons

1. Allah stresses again that He responds to du’a.

2. Du’a to ask Allah to remove evil.

3. Allah is shy if His slave raise his hands and ask Him for something and He doesn’t give it to him. So make du’a often.

Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam said,

Nothing drives back Al Qadaa ( a decree) except for supplication, and nothing increases a (person’s) lifespan except for al Birr – At Tirmidhee. This hadeeth is Hassan Ghareeb.

Lesson

1. Do not underestimate a du’a for it will remove evil and Allah knows best how He will respond to you by your du’a.

Reference

1. The purification of the soul – Compiled from the works of Ibn Rajab al Hanbali, Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyya and Abu hamid al Ghazali.

Said Ibn ‘Abbas, “The Prophet ordered us to prostrate on seven bodily parts and not to fold back the hair or clothing: the forehead (along with the nose), the hands, the knees and the feet.” (Bukhari)

Let us check
i. That our forehead is firm on the ground
ii. and so is your nose.
iii. both hands palm down on the ground
1v. the knees
v. be sure that our feet is close together and on the ground and not lifted above the ground.

All about arms when making sujud

Abdullah bin Malik bin Buhaina narrated
Whenever the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam performed solah (in prostration) he used to keep his hands open widely seperated (from his body) so much so that the whiteness of his armpits was visible. (Bukhari)

Anas narrated that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wasalam said

Be moderate in prostrations, and let none of you stretch out his forearms (on the ground) like a dog. (Muslim)

Again we need to check our arms. Is it on the floor? Just like a dog sitting down on all fours. Prophet Muhammad salllahu alaihi wasalam caution us not to do our prayer like the animal namely bird that pecks too fast, camel sitting down and now a dog stretching his forearms.

The solah of a man whose nose does not rest on the ground as his forehead does – is not valid.”

Make sure the nose is on the ground

The feet

Aishah narrated: “One night I missed Allah’s Messenger sallalalhu alaihi wasalam from the bed, and when I sought him my hands touched the lower part of his feet while he was in the state of prostrations. His feet were raised (on his toes). (Muslim)

Invocation during Prostration

There are a few invocation that Prophet sallahu alaihi wasalam recited during his prostration. We are only used to the common one. I think it is time that we learn a new invocation Insya Allah.

This is among them

Characteristics of Prayer

Bukhari :: Book 1 :: Volume 12 :: Hadith 760

Narrated ‘Aisha:

The Prophet used to say in his bowing and prostrations, “Subhanaka-Allahumma Rabbana wa-bihamdika Allahumma-ighfirli.’ (I honor Allah from all what (unsuitable things) is ascribed to Him. O Allah Our Lord! And all the praises are for You. O Allah! Forgive me).”

Closest to Allah during prostration

The Book of Prayers (Kitab Al-Salat)

Muslim :: Book 4 : Hadith 979

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication (in this state).

We are in the state most near to Allah when we make sujood. We should try to make supplication to Allah at this time, make sujood properly as taught by prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam.

Based on the evidence given, we take the opinion that saying Bismillah is mustahab. However it does not mean that we omit it from our wudhu’ ritual rather we have in our mind to rush for ajr, Insya Allah.

3. Washing the hands three times at the start of the ablution

Uthman in which he demonstrated how the Prophet salllahu alaihi wasalam used to make ablution and he washed his hands three times.

4. Beginning from the right side.

Aishah radialllahu anha said, “Allah’s Messenger sallallahu alaihi wasalam used to love starting with the right side when wearing his shoes, combing his hair, making ablution, and in all his affairs.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

It is also reported in the hadith of Uthman bin Affan in which he demonstrated the ablution of the prophet sallalalhu alahi wasalam that he began with the right side and then the left.

5. Rubbing the limbs with water.

It is reported in a hadith by Abdullah ibn Zayd that the prophet salllahu alaihi wasalam was brought a pot of two=thirds full of water with hwich he made ablution, rubbing his arms as he did so. (Ibn Khuzaymah)

6. Repeating washing three times.

Uthman radiallalhu anhu in which he said that the Prophet sallalalhu alaihi wasalam made ablution, repeating each washing three times. It is also authentically reported that he did so, performing each washing once and also twice.”

We have done this before as well. We definitely need a good nudge to remind us.

The Book of Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah) Muslim :: Book 2 : Hadith 451

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir reported: We were entrusted with the task of tending the camels. On my turn when I came back in the evening after grazing them in the pastures, I found Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) stand and address the people. I heard these words of his: If any Muslim performs ablution well, then stands and prays two rak’ahs setting about them with his heart as well as his face, Paradise would be guaranteed to him.

And also this hadith that Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wasalam heard Bilal’s footsteps in paradise Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu ‘anhu narrates that once Nabi Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam asked Bilal (Radiyallahu ‘anhu) at Fajr Salat: O Bilal! Tell me that deed of yours which is most hopeful (for reward) after embracing Islam, for I heard your footsteps in front of me in Paradise (in my dream). Bilal (Radiyallahu ‘anhu) replied:I have not done anything extroadinary except that whenever I perform Wudu during the day or night, I Salat (Tahiyatul-Wudu) after that, as much as was written or granted for me.(Bukhari)

Allâh bears witness that Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), and the angels, and those having knowledge (also give this witness); (He always) maintains His creation in Justice. Lâ ilâh illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. (Al Imran 3: 18)

Allah has asked whoever desires honour and glory to request this only from Him

Fatir 35: 10

Whosoever desires honour, (power and glory) then to Allâh belong all honour, power and glory [and one can get honour, power and glory only by obeying and worshipping Allâh (Alone)].

Honour will be achieved by believing in Allah and submitting to Him, relying on Him and seeking His Protection.

Munafiqoon 63: 8

But honour, power and glory belong to Allâh, and to His Messenger (Muhammad SAW), and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not. (8)

Those who seek power and honour from other than Allah are fools and ignorant. Because these are just transient sources of powers. Who do not have the true ultimate power and be sure that those who seek honour from others while disobeying Allah, Allah will dishonour him and reap his honour from people.

Seekers of Protection from the Enemies of Allah – Shall not get Honour, Glory and Power.

The hypocrites at the time of Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasalam took disbelievers as their protectors and their supporters. They wanted honor, power and glory. But all of these belong to Allah only.

Allah says in Suratun Nisa’ 4: 138-139

Give to the hypocrites the tidings that there is for them a painful torment. (138) Those who take disbelievers for Auliyâ’ (protectors or helpers or friends) instead of believers, do they seek honour, power and glory with them? Verily, then to Allâh belongs all honour, power and glory. (139)

Those who are deceived and enchanted by the power of disbelievers should return to Allah, who is the real sources of honor and power. We Muslims are humiliated – no Glory, no real power and no honour, because many of us are seeking help from other than Allah. Thus Allah dishonour us! Allah Musta’an.

Feeling Sad – Allah is with Us

There are times when we go around the internet for example or anywhere, we will read some bad comments criticising Islam and Muslims. This is a struggle for most of us to hear their threats, curses and criticism. Truly honour, glory and power belong to Allah alone.

Allah comforted the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam

Yunus 10: 65

And let not their speech grieve you (O Muhammad SAW), for all power and honour belong to Allâh. He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. (65)

Indeed victory is from Allah

Al Imran 3: 126
Allâh made it not but as a message of good news for you and as an assurance to your hearts. And there is no victory except from Allâh, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. (126)

Honour, Power and Glory of Allah Comes with His Wisdom and Mercy

Allah’s name Al Aziz has been associated with the name Al hakim (the All Wise) in the Quran.

Al Maidah 5: 118
وَإِن تَغۡفِرۡ لَهُمۡ فَإِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ
and if You forgive them, verily You, only You are the All¬Mighty, the All¬Wise.” (118)

Allah join these names together to indicate that Allah’s Power and Glory are governed by His Wisdom and Justice. Unlike some of us who have power and practice his worldly power without any wisdom nor justice altogether.

Power and Glory with Allah’s Mercy
Al Shuara 26: 9
وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
And verily, your Lord! He is truly the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful

The combination of Power and Mercy indicate that Allah is Merciful in His Power and Glory. Had His power been free of Mercy, this indicates a defect in His power..

Glorify Allah

As Saffat 37: 180-182

سُبۡحَـٰنَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ ٱلۡعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ (﻿١٨٠﻿) وَسَلَـٰمٌ عَلَى ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ (﻿١٨١﻿) وَٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (﻿١٨٢﻿)
Glorified is your Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! (He is free) from what they attribute unto Him! (180) And peace be on the Messengers! (181) And all the praises and thanks are to Allâh, Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists). (182)